Passion

Do you think Edmund Hillary was passionate about climbing Mount Everest? How about Chuck Yeager? Could he have accomplished all he did without passion? In fact, is it possible for any major achievement to be realized by an individual who lacks passion? No. Passion is an essential ingredient necessary for the attainment of a significant goal. Passion is the drive that enables a person to keep going in spite of the odds of success being small.

Passion is the fuel that powers an individual to overcome hardships. Passion is the difference between success and failure. It's difficult, if not impossible, to fake passion.



Also, attempting to be passionate about something that doesn't resonate with you is just as futile. True passion has to come from the heart. True passion is hard to repress.

The challenge is to identify that which you are passionate about. Do you know what your passion is? It might be a hobby, a sport, a recreational activity or even your occupation. When you are passionate about something, it really excites you.

You want to spend as much time as possible with it. When you are engaged with your passion, time goes by all too fast. Some people have no idea what their passion is.

This happens when they have given little thought as to what they really like. They may be so caught up in the "practical" aspects of life that they don't pay enough attention to the inner voice that everyone has. When the inner voice is ignored long enough, it becomes obscured.

But it is always there below the surface. Another syndrome is when people know deep down what their passion is, but deny it. The denial may be for one of several reasons.

They may feel, or have been told by others, that their passion isn't practical. They may have been encouraged to pursue another path by pressure or expectations of others. Those who don't pursue their passion can experience frustration along with the feeling that their life is missing something.

It's certainly possible to have an enjoyable, rewarding life in spite of not pursuing a passion. But people who follow their passion experience a unique satisfaction. Those people whose occupation corresponds to their passion often believe they are living an ideal life.

They don't consider what they are doing as work. They feel their time is spent doing something they love. Sometimes people require numerous attempts before they find their true passion.

They may go through several "careers" before finding the perfect fit. Even after spending many years in a particular occupation, they will change regardless of what it takes. On the other hand, there are those people who spend their entire lives doing something they don't really enjoy because they falsely believe it's too late to change.

It's never too late and you are never too old to pursue your passion. Life is too short to spend it doing something you are not thrilled with. Whatever you do for fun and recreation people make a living at.

Why not do what you really love? If you don't know what that is, spend some time figuring it out. Somewhere inside you is the key to your passion. Forget about your previous conditioning as to what you should be doing.

Focus instead on what you want to be doing. It's a shame when someone has regrets that they never pursued their dreams. Also, your passion may change with time and it's okay for you to adjust with it.

Find your passion and follow it. The satisfaction will be worth it. NOW AVAILABLE: "Dare to Live Without Limits," the book.

Visit www.BryanGolden.com or your bookstore.

Bryan Golden is a management consultant, motivational speaker, author, and adjunct professor. E-mail Bryan at [email protected] or write him c/o this paper.

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